Wednesday, July 16, 2008

The Edmonton Oilers have agreed to terms with forward Shawn Horcoff on a six-year, $33 million contract extension, keeping him under contract through the 2014-15 season.

''Shawn has proven himself as one of the premier players in the National Hockey League and has been and will continue to be an integral part of our organization moving forward,'' Oilers General Manager Kevin Lowe said in a statement. ''By being proactive with this deal, we avoid being in a situation where Shawn could become an unrestricted free agent after next season and the unknown free agency can bring to the organization. Having him under contract long-term is something that has been on our radar for a long time and we are extremely pleased to finalize this deal.''

Horcoff will average $5.5 million per season over the course of the contract, and that is certainly fair value for both sides. The speedy center has proven to be a workhorse for the Oilers and is capable of being on the ice during all critical situations. Also, his work ethic and leadership skills have not gone unnoticed by the Oilers management and the team's fans. He should anchor one of the team's top two lines for the next five to six years and Oilers fans should be happy to see he is in the fold for the long haul.

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